But about 45 minutes earlier, the series appeared to be on track for a Game 6. Host Calgary had taken a lead at 14:03 of the third period on a Blake Coleman goal. Then the NHL’s command center in Toronto took a look.
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Coleman was ruled to have intentionally kicked the puck into the net. The goal was disallowed and the game remained tied through regulation.
Close call. Right call? The puck did go in off Coleman’s skate, but Coleman was also bouncing off Oilers goalie Mike Smith and defenseman Cody Ceci.
“I don’t think I understand the rule,” Coleman said after the game.
What is the rule?
NHL rules 37.4 and 49.2 address kicking the puck into the net. The infamous phrase “distinct kicking motion” is the key.
The league issued a short and sweet explanation:
“There’s no intent,” Coleman said. “Just trying to get there. I opened my foot, but my understanding is that you can redirect the puck off your foot as long as you’re not lifting it and kicking it into the net. I’ll go watch it again. Maybe it’s glaringly obvious. I just didn’t feel like I did what it looks like.”
Regardless, Coleman and the Flames are out of the playoffs after a second-round series filled with goals — minus the one that was taken off the board late in Game 5.
